How have bird species populations changed from 1880 to now?

Summary

Bird species abundance and diversity has certainly changed between now and the 1880’s when the Champlain Society was running field courses on Mount Desert Island (MDI). We compared the Champlain Society’s species list that they kept over the 4 year duration they were active on MDI, to the past 4 years of eBird data from 2018-2021. Since the effort of birders today is much more extensive than what could have been possible in the 1880’s lets compare the species diversity of common species. Today, there are 89 common species on MDI, whereas in the early 1880’s there were only 58 common species. So, the diveristy of regularly occuring species has increased. Table 4 lists all species that were not recorded historically, but are now common. But, when looking at the changes of the species recorded historically we do see a 23.86% decrease in these species (Fiugre 1, Table 3). Table 1 and Table 2 highlight the species with the most severe changes over the last 150 years. For a full list of changes to species see Table 5.

Bar Graph of Species Changes

**Figure 1**. The bar graph shows changes in the species recorded by the Champlain Society in the 1880s.

Figure 1. The bar graph shows changes in the species recorded by the Champlain Society in the 1880s.

Drastically Decreasing Species

Table 1. This table shows the species that have decreased drastically in abundance since the 1880s.

common.name scientific.name frequency.1880 frequency.current freq.changes
American Woodcock Scolopax minor common rare decreased
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia common rare decreased
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus common rare decreased
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax common migrant/vagrant decreased
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla uncommon migrant/vagrant decreased
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis common rare decreased
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica common rare decreased
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus common rare decreased
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus common rare decreased
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris common rare decreased
**Figure 2**. American Woodcock (*Scolopax minor*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 2. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) distribution across MDI.

**Figure 3**. Black-crowned Night-Heron (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 3. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) distribution across MDI.

**Figure 4**. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (*Empidonax flaviventris*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 4. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) distribution across MDI.

Drastically Increasing Species

Table 2. This table shows the species that have increased drastically in abundance since the 1880s.

common.name scientific.name frequency.1880 frequency.current freq.changes
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens rare common increased
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata rare common increased
Brown Creeper Certhia americana rare common increased
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe rare common increased
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra rare common increased
**Figure 5**. Black-throated Blue Warbler (*Setophaga caerulescens*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 5. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) distribution across MDI.

**Figure 6**. Blue Jay (*Cyanocitta cristata*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 6. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) distribution across MDI.

**Figure 7**. Eastern Phoebe (*Sayornis phoebe*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 7. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) distribution across MDI.

All Decreasing Species

Table 3. This table shows the species we know to have descreased in abundance since the 1880s. The frequency value ‘migrant only’ refers to the species not breeding on MDI and isn’t specifically associated with migratory species.

common.name scientific.name frequency.1880 frequency.current frequency.changes
American Woodcock Scolopax minor common rare decreased
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia common rare decreased
Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea common uncommon decreased
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus common rare decreased
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax common migrant/vagrant decreased
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla uncommon migrant/vagrant decreased
Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis common rare decreased
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica common rare decreased
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus uncommon rare decreased
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla common uncommon decreased
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus common rare decreased
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus common rare decreased
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris common rare decreased
Eastern Whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius rare extinct decreased
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota common migrant/vagrant decreased
Purple Martin Progne subis rare migrant/vagrant decreased

Modern Species Not Recorded in the 1880s

Table 4. This table shows the common and uncommon species that are reguarly seen on MDI in modern times, but were not recorded in the 1880s. From this, we can infer that these species have expanded their range likely as a result of cliamte change and landscape change. There are 32 species that are now common on MDI that were not present historically, and 18 species that are uncommon but regular and were not present historically.

common.name scientific.name frequency
Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata uncommon
Canada Goose Branta canadensis common
Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina uncommon
Common Eider Somateria mollissima common
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula common
Common Merganser Mergus merganser common
Common Raven Corvus corax common
Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii uncommon
Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum common
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus common
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens common
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris uncommon
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis common
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus common
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo uncommon
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus uncommon
Great Egret Ardea alba uncommon
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca uncommon
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus common
House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus common
House Sparrow Passer domesticus common
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla common
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus uncommon
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos common
Merlin Falco columbarius common
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura common
Nelson’s Sparrow Ammospiza nelsoni common
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis common
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus common
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum uncommon
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus common
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus common
Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus common
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena uncommon
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis common
Rock Pigeon Columba livia common
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula uncommon
Snowy Egret Egretta thula uncommon
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana common
Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina uncommon
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor uncommon
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura common
Veery Catharus fuscescens uncommon
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis common
White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi common
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo common
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus uncommon
Wood Duck Aix sponsa common
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina common
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius uncommon

Total Species List Changes

Table 5. This table breaks down of all species recorded by the Champlain Society with their frquency status from the 1880s and today. If you look at the ‘Changes in Frequency’ column you can see how these species have changed from historic times.

common.name scientific.name frequency.1880 frequency.current frequency.changes
Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum common common stable
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus rare uncommon increased
American Black Duck Anas rubripes common common stable
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos common common stable
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis common common stable
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla common common stable
American Robin Turdus migratorius common common stable
American Woodcock Scolopax minor common rare decreased
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus common common stable
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia common rare decreased
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica common common stable
Barred Owl Strix varia uncommon common increased
Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea common uncommon decreased
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon common common stable
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle common common stable
Black Scoter Melanitta americana rare uncommon increased
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia common common stable
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus common rare decreased
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus common common stable
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax common migrant/vagrant decreased
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla uncommon migrant/vagrant decreased
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens rare common increased
Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens common common stable
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca common common stable
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata rare common increased
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius common common stable
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus uncommon uncommon stable
Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia uncommon common increased
Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus common common stable
Brown Creeper Certhia americana rare common increased
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis common rare decreased
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum common common stable
Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica common common stable
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica common rare decreased
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina common common stable
Common Loon Gavia immer uncommon common increased
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor common common stable
Common Tern Sterna hirundo common common stable
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas common common stable
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis common common stable
Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens common common stable
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis rare uncommon increased
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus uncommon rare decreased
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe rare common increased
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa common common stable
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias common common stable
Hairy Woodpecker Dryobates villosus common common stable
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus common common stable
Herring Gull Larus argentatus common common stable
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Leach’s Storm-Petrel Hydrobates leucorhous rare rare stable
Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia common common stable
Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla common uncommon decreased
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus common common stable
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius rare uncommon increased
Northern Parula Setophaga americana common common stable
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis rare rare stable
Osprey Pandion haliaetus common common stable
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla common common stable
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus common rare decreased
Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus common common stable
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra rare common increased
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis common common stable
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus common common stable
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis rare uncommon increased
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus uncommon common increased
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris common common stable
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus common rare decreased
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis common common stable
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus uncommon common increased
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia common common stable
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius common common stable
Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus common common stable
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor common common stable
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus rare rare stable
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis common common stable
White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera rare uncommon increased
Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla rare rare stable
Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis common common stable
Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia common common stable
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris common rare decreased
Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata common common stable
Eastern Whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus rare migrant/vagrant decreased
Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius rare extinct decreased
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota common migrant/vagrant decreased
Purple Martin Progne subis rare migrant/vagrant decreased